Just seven days ago, the Echo broke the news that Cardiff Blues and Celtic Warriors were considering an almost unbelievable merger.

Against some pretty stiff competition it was probably the most astonishing story even by Welsh rugby's standards for many a moon.

But now it appears to be unravelling, largely because of the passionate opposition that has sprung up across the board.

And thank heavens for that.

Cardiff Blues, under the right leadership, CAN work.

And, as far more illustrious pundits than myself have argued, the capital city's identity in top flight rugby must be preserved.

Celtic Warriors? Well, if Sunday's rip-roaring Heineken Cup victory at Wasps was not sufficient to persuade Leighton Samuel to leave well enough alone then nothing will.

And a 10,000 crowd at the Brewery Field on Friday night for the return will only hammer the point home.

Sure, concerns will remain that four, and not five, regions would be beneficial in all manner of ways for the domestic game. But a seismic merger of the Blues and Warriors was never going to be the way to go about it.

And in going behind everyone's backs to kick-start the idea, Peter Thomas appears to have seriously underestimated the militancy under his nose at the Welsh game's most famous plot of land.

Cardiff followers have oft stood accused of lacking passion. That charge will forever now be a dubious one after the way the key Arms Park factions have risen up against this cop-out.